Begonia plant named ‘Bbeatrice’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbeatrice’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; double flowers with salmon pink-colored tepals; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbeatrice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known as Elatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbeatrice’.

The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark in March, 1999, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Netja’, not patented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a group of flowering plants of the parent cultivar.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark since 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bbeatrice’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bbeatrice’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bbeatrice’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Double flowers with salmon pink-colored tepals.     -   3. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia are most similar to plants of the parent, the cultivar Netja. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Netja in flower color as tepals of plants of the cultivar Bbeatrice are salmon pink in color whereas tepals of plants of the cultivar Netja are light pink in color.

Plants of the new Begonia are similar in flower color to plants of the cultivar Tilly, not patented. However flower color of plants of the new Begonia is more intense salmon pink than flower color of plants of the cultivar Tilly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bbeatrice’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer, and grown under conditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 15 to 20° C. and light levels were about 18,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and the description were grown in 13-cm containers and were about three months old when the photograph and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbeatrice. -   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of     Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Netja, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of             20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About five weeks at temperatures of             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched. Plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant             habit; freely branching with about five or six basal             branches per plant. Moderately vigorous. Vegetative shoots             are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at             upper nodes.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 to 25 cm.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 9 cm.             Width: About 6 to 7 cm. Shape: Ovate; asymmetrical. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Oblique. Margin: Doubly crenate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; leathery.             Venation pattern: Palmate. Color: Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing             and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C.             Venation, upper surface: Close to 137A. Venation, lower             surface: Close to 137C. Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm.             Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 137A. Stipule quantity: Two per leaf.             Stipule size: About 1 cm by 1 cm. Stipule texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with about 10 to 12 tepals             per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes. Numerous             cymes in flower simultaneously; about 25 to 30 open flowers             per plant. Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Under natural daylight conditions,             plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation             and development is induced by long day/short night             conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive             conditions.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five             weeks on the plant.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval; double. Orientation: Flat to cupped.             Diameter: About 4 to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 cm. Color: Close to 38B.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Obovate to rounded.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Length: About 2             to 3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: 37B; towards the margins, 36A. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: 38B.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement:             Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:             Rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 146D.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:             About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D overlain with 39B.         -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:             About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146D overlain with 39B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed             as reproductive organs are not formed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have been     observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new     Begonia have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Begonia. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bbeatrice’, as illustrated and described. 